IA news

[Jaimecbr900]

Magna Carta Sells for $21.3M in New York

Published: 12/19/07, 9:45 AM EDT


NEW YORK (AP) - A 710-year-old copy of the declaration of human rights known as the Magna Carta - the version that became part of English law - was auctioned Tuesday for $21.3 million, a Sotheby's spokeswoman said.

The document, which had been expected to draw bids of $30 million or higher, was bought by David Rubenstein of The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm, the spokeswoman said.

Sotheby's vice chairman David Redden called the old but durable parchment "the most important document in the world, the birth certificate of freedom."

The document was owned by the Perot Foundation, created by Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot, since the early 1980s. It had been on exhibit at the auction house for the past 11 days.

Bearing the seal of King Edward I and dated 1297, it is one of 17 known copies of the historic tract that defined human rights as the foundation for liberty and democracy as it is known today. It is one of two that exist outside Britain; the other is in Australia.

__________________________________________________ ____________

What exactly are you gonna do with a 700 yr old document???? I know it's historic value, but why if you have that kind of money would you spend it on a piece of paper you can do nothing with? Discuss.

[Jaimecbr900]

Sharpton Seeks Hate Charge in W.Va. Case

Published: 12/19/07, 9:45 AM EDT
By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Rev. Al Sharpton called on prosecutors Tuesday to add hate crimes charges against the six people suspected of kidnapping and torturing a young black woman, and vowed not to give up the pressure.

"The best way to keep us out of town is to handle hate crimes the right way here in town," the civil rights activist told a crowd of nearly 100 people gathered at the First Baptist Church in honor of Megan Williams.

Authorities said three men and three women held Williams captive for days at a rural trailer in Big Creek this summer - sexually assaulting her, beating her and forcing her to eat human and animal feces. She was rescued after an anonymous caller alerted Logan County sheriff's deputies.

The case is expected to go in January before a grand jury, where the defendants face sexual assault and kidnapping charges. The kidnapping count carries a possible sentence of life in prison.

Prosecutor Brian Abraham has said state hate crimes charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, could be difficult to prove because Williams had a "social relationship" with one of the suspects, 24-year-old Bobby Brewster.
__________________________________________________ ______________


Sharpton has no clue. He is rallying to be sure that they prosecute using "hate crimes" statues which carry a LIGHTER sentence than what the state is seeking which is kidnapping charges. How's that make sense? What is his angle? Discuss.

[Echonova]

Sharpton Seeks Hate Charge in W.Va. Case

Published: 12/19/07, 9:45 AM EDT
By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Rev. Al Sharpton called on prosecutors Tuesday to add hate crimes charges against the six people suspected of kidnapping and torturing a young black woman, and vowed not to give up the pressure.

"The best way to keep us out of town is to handle hate crimes the right way here in town," the civil rights activist told a crowd of nearly 100 people gathered at the First Baptist Church in honor of Megan Williams.

Authorities said three men and three women held Williams captive for days at a rural trailer in Big Creek this summer - sexually assaulting her, beating her and forcing her to eat human and animal feces. She was rescued after an anonymous caller alerted Logan County sheriff's deputies.

The case is expected to go in January before a grand jury, where the defendants face sexual assault and kidnapping charges. The kidnapping count carries a possible sentence of life in prison.

Prosecutor Brian Abraham has said state hate crimes charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, could be difficult to prove because Williams had a "social relationship" with one of the suspects, 24-year-old Bobby Brewster.
__________________________________________________ ______________


Sharpton has no clue. He is rallying to be sure that they prosecute using "hate crimes" statues which carry a LIGHTER sentence than what the state is seeking which is kidnapping charges. How's that make sense? What is his angle? Discuss.

Sharpton is trying to deflect attention away from his own FBI/IRS investigation.

[Jaimecbr900]

CNN) -- New Jersey lawmakers have voted to abolish the death penalty in the state, sending the governor a bill he has already said he will sign. The measure will make New Jersey the first state in more than 40 years to outlaw capital punishment.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, in a file photo, has said he'll sign the bill abolishing the death penalty.






The bill will make life in prison the most severe penalty for convicted murderers in the state, including the eight men currently on the state's death row. New Jersey has not put anyone to death since 1963, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

The state Assembly approved the measure 44-36 Thursday, following up Monday's 21-16 approval in the state Senate.

A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine said the bill probably will be signed into law within a few days, after the exact text is reviewed closely.

"The governor has said for quite some time that he supports the bill," said spokesman Jim Gardner.

No Death Penalty

Alaska
Hawaii
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin
(District of Columbia)

Source: Amnesty International

The bill was introduced in November, after a state commission concluded capital punishment does not prevent violent crime, and could lead to innocent people being executed.

Some Republicans had argued police killers and terrorists should still be eligible for execution, but Democrats, who control both houses, backed the change.

"This vote marks a new chapter in our nation's 30-year experiment with capital punishment," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes executions.

"New Jersey lawmakers are demonstrating sound judgment in abandoning capital punishment after learning of its costs, the pain it causes victims' families, and the risks the death penalty poses to innocent lives."

__________________________________________________ ______________


New Jersey, in their infinite wisdom, has opted to abolish capital punishment and commuting the death sentences of 6 people already on Death Row. One of which was the murderer of Megan Smith, the 7 yr old for which "Megan's law" was named after. It made the sex offender registry possible. Makes sense why we should keep such a model citizen alive living of the 3 squares and a bed tax payers will provide for years and years and years to come.

Discuss.

[Jaimecbr900]

Baseball steroid scandal.


Should we permanently include an asterisk (*) from now on to all the "records" since now it looks like it's a widely used substance in baseball????

Discuss.

[Echonova]

Baseball steroid scandal.


Should we permanently include an asterisk (*) from now on to all the "records" since now it looks like it's a widely used substance in baseball????

Discuss.

How far back does it go? Who decides where to start putting the asterisk? This has been going on for decades, baseball should be dismantled as we know it. If I wanted to see a athlete pumped on steriods I'd watch the WWE.

[civic95]

Baseball steroid scandal.


Should we permanently include an asterisk (*) from now on to all the "records" since now it looks like it's a widely used substance in baseball????

Discuss.

We should of ended baseball back when they went on strike.

[Echonova]

CNN) -- New Jersey lawmakers have voted to abolish the death penalty in the state, sending the governor a bill he has already said he will sign. The measure will make New Jersey the first state in more than 40 years to outlaw capital punishment.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, in a file photo, has said he'll sign the bill abolishing the death penalty.






The bill will make life in prison the most severe penalty for convicted murderers in the state, including the eight men currently on the state's death row. New Jersey has not put anyone to death since 1963, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

The state Assembly approved the measure 44-36 Thursday, following up Monday's 21-16 approval in the state Senate.

A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine said the bill probably will be signed into law within a few days, after the exact text is reviewed closely.

"The governor has said for quite some time that he supports the bill," said spokesman Jim Gardner.

No Death Penalty

Alaska
Hawaii
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin
(District of Columbia)

Source: Amnesty International

The bill was introduced in November, after a state commission concluded capital punishment does not prevent violent crime, and could lead to innocent people being executed.

Some Republicans had argued police killers and terrorists should still be eligible for execution, but Democrats, who control both houses, backed the change.

"This vote marks a new chapter in our nation's 30-year experiment with capital punishment," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes executions.

"New Jersey lawmakers are demonstrating sound judgment in abandoning capital punishment after learning of its costs, the pain it causes victims' families, and the risks the death penalty poses to innocent lives."

__________________________________________________ ______________


New Jersey, in their infinite wisdom, has opted to abolish capital punishment and commuting the death sentences of 6 people already on Death Row. One of which was the murderer of Megan Smith, the 7 yr old for which "Megan's law" was named after. It made the sex offender registry possible. Makes sense why we should keep such a model citizen alive living of the 3 squares and a bed tax payers will provide for years and years and years to come.

Discuss.

Liberals will destroy this country. Violent crime will skyrocket in New Jersey, and they will all scratch their heads and wonder why. How someone that murders a child can not only be left living. But cared for the rest of IT'S life is beyond me.

[nreggie454]

CNN) -- New Jersey lawmakers have voted to abolish the death penalty in the state, sending the governor a bill he has already said he will sign. The measure will make New Jersey the first state in more than 40 years to outlaw capital punishment.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, in a file photo, has said he'll sign the bill abolishing the death penalty.






The bill will make life in prison the most severe penalty for convicted murderers in the state, including the eight men currently on the state's death row. New Jersey has not put anyone to death since 1963, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

The state Assembly approved the measure 44-36 Thursday, following up Monday's 21-16 approval in the state Senate.

A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine said the bill probably will be signed into law within a few days, after the exact text is reviewed closely.

"The governor has said for quite some time that he supports the bill," said spokesman Jim Gardner.

No Death Penalty

Alaska
Hawaii
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin
(District of Columbia)

Source: Amnesty International

The bill was introduced in November, after a state commission concluded capital punishment does not prevent violent crime, and could lead to innocent people being executed.

Some Republicans had argued police killers and terrorists should still be eligible for execution, but Democrats, who control both houses, backed the change.

"This vote marks a new chapter in our nation's 30-year experiment with capital punishment," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes executions.

"New Jersey lawmakers are demonstrating sound judgment in abandoning capital punishment after learning of its costs, the pain it causes victims' families, and the risks the death penalty poses to innocent lives."

__________________________________________________ ______________


New Jersey, in their infinite wisdom, has opted to abolish capital punishment and commuting the death sentences of 6 people already on Death Row. One of which was the murderer of Megan Smith, the 7 yr old for which "Megan's law" was named after. It made the sex offender registry possible. Makes sense why we should keep such a model citizen alive living of the 3 squares and a bed tax payers will provide for years and years and years to come.

Discuss.

**** abolishing the death penalty. I say we bring back hangings in the town square. I am sure that watching a guy do the "no floor tapdance" would prevent more violent crimes than some painless shot in a prison.

Either way, I don't think housing a murderer for the rest of his life on my tax dollars prevents much violent crime either.